10 

 Results 



Species Distribution 



Sculpin distribution in the study area appeared to be limited to three species (Figures 2, 

 3, and 4); slimy sculpins (Cottus cognatus), torrent sculpins (Cottus rhotheus), and 

 shorthead sculpins (Cottus confusus). Qualitative assessments of habitat characters for 

 each site are included in appendix A. 



Slimy sculpins had the most widespread distribution of the three sculpin species found 

 in the study area. This species was found in a variety of longitudinal locations on tributary 

 streams of the Clark Fork River, Kootenai River, and Yaak River. 



Slimy sculpins were the dominant sculpin species along the lower Clark Fork River 

 with the exception of the St. Regis River watershed, where shorthead sculpins were found 

 exclusively. Longitudinally, slimy sculpins were found at sites on tributary streams in the 

 lower Clark Fork in close proximity to the main river as well as at sites greater than 1 km 

 distance from the main river. 



On Kootenai River tributaries, the distributional pattern of slimy sculpins was slightiy 

 different. Longitudinally, slimy sculpins appeared to be located higher up in the tributary 

 streams at greater distances from the main river. Torrent sculpins tended to occupy the 

 sites on tributary streams in close proximity to the main Kootenai River. However, 

 several tributaries of the Kootenai contained slimy sculpins in close proximity to the main 

 river and it appears that at least two sites may contain slimy sculpins in sympatry with 

 torrent sculpins. 



Slimy sculpins, for the most part, were the only sculpin species present in the Yaak 

 drainage above Yaak Falls with the exception of three samples containing shorthead 

 sculpins in sympatry with slimy sculpins. 



